Device for teaching swimming.



P. BELLAN. DEVICE FOR TEACHING SWIMMING. APPLICATION FILED APR. I9, 1915. RENEWED JULY'14. 19H: I

1,238,380. 7 Patented Aug. 28,1917.

Fig. i

PETER BELLAN, OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI.

DEVICE FOR TEACHING SWIMMING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 28, 1917.

Application filed April 19, 1915, Serial NO. 22,447. Renewed July 14, 1917. Serial No. 180,680.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER BELLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Teaching Swimming, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

The invention relates to a device for teaching swimming and has for its object to provide a device of this character which is of a very simple and inexpensive construction and yet very well adapted to teach one the strokes and movements necessary for one to swim with case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which may be readily transported or moved from place to place according to necessity and occasion.

With these and other objects in view, which will more fully appear hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

The drawing herewith submitted represents a device for teaching swimming in a form serving as an example for execution and as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device in operation.

Fig. 2 shows a modified form of the adjustment of the pole used with my device, and

Fig. 3 shows still another modification of said pole adjustment.

As shown in Fig. 1, the pole at is provided at its outer end with an eye or the like 7) through which a rope or cord 0 is guided, the free end of which is securedto the swimming belt or harness r! for supporting the swimmer c on the water. This harness may have any desired suitable shape and construction. The inner free end of the rope or cord 0 is loosely secured to a suitable fastening device or rope-clamp f within the reach of the operator or teacher 9.

As shown in Fig. 2 the pole a may be provided intermediate its ends with a foot h secured to the pole in any well known manner and adapted to slide in a groove 2' suitably shaped and formed in the upper rail is of the railing I supported by the legs m extending vertically and at suitable distances from the platform a providing a stand for the teacher. Vi ith this modification the rope is guided over a pulley 0 at the outer end of the pole a, while its inner end is secured to a reel 79 or the like.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3 the pole a is supported intermediate its ends in an oar-lock g or the like, the pin 7* of which can be placed at will through any one of the holes a suitably arranged in the rail 7c.

vVhen teaching swimming, the harness (Z is secured to the body of the swimmer c and the rope c fastened thereto and guided through the eye Z) or over the pulley 0 at the end of the pole at and the free end of said rope is grasped by the teacher who adjusts the rope after the swimmer has gone into the water according to requirement and then secures the end to the fastening device 7 or reel 79 and supports the pole intermediate its ends suitably upon the rail 76 holding with his left hand the rope and with his right hand the pole and by pressing with his right leg as shown upon the pole counterbalances the weight of the swimmer and regulates the depth of the immersion into the water. The teacher then gives the commands for the single strokes to be executed by the swimmer which may have been shown to him before entering the water. As soon. as the swimmer has acquired the necessary skill to execute the necessary strokes and movements the pole can be dispensed with and the swimmer in order to give him a feeling of security just be held by the rope which is finally also dispensed with.

In the foregoing description, I have embodied the preferred form of my invention, but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the principle, or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, therefore I reserve to myself the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is: pulley at the outer end of said pole over In a device of the character described, the Which said rope is guided and a reel secured combination of a pole With a grooved rail to said pole to which the inner end of the '10 for supporting said pole intermediate its rope is fastened, substantially as described 5 ends, a foot secured to said pole adapted to and for the purpose set forth.

be slidably displaced in the groove of said In testimony whereof I affix my signature. rail, a rope for suspending the swimmer, a PETER BELLAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

